USA > Iowa > Guthrie County > Centennial history of Guthrie county, Iowa > Part 8
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The two Mormon trails, one through Madison and Adair, and the other through Guthrie, by Dale City and Dalma- nutha, came together and verged into one road near Mr. James' place. In 1858, when the last of the " hand cart brigade" went through, one woman, a fifth wife, deserted the train and took refuge with Mr. James and his family, where she remained a short time, when she went east. As frequent mention is made of the " Mormon trail " and the " hand cart " expedition, a very brief sketch of that expe- dition will not be out of place here.
Until the year 1856, the Mormon emigrants had always made the journey across the plains, with ox carts under the charge of some of the elders, who were returning from their missionary labors across the ocean, bringing witht.
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them the fruits of their labors, in the persons of those who were converted to their faith. The able-bodied went on foot, while those too young, too old or too feeble to walk, went in the wagons with the baggage. After much time , and deliberation spent on the subject of reducing expenses, Brigham Young hit upon the plan of having them cross the plains in hand carts.
Accordingly, Mr. Webb, father of Ann Eliza, was ordered to Iowa City from England, where he was engaged in mis- sionary work, to build the hand carts that should take the large number of converts to the new Zion.
After camping some time at Iowa City without tents or shanties, they took up their weary march by companies, going through Guthrie on the old Mormon trail, through Morrisburg, Dale City and Dalmanutha. The carts were ordinarily drawn by one man and two women, some, how- ever, were drawn by women only, and when they came to a rough or muddy place, they doubled teams, one or two going behind the cart and pushing, by means of a forked stick, the fork being placed over the shoulder and under the arm, while the other end was placed against the cart.
Each company was under the supervision of a captain, who rode in a carriage. The captains of the companies who went through in 1856, were Savage Willie, Atwood and Woodward.
They were so scantily provided with provisions, that they would stop and beg of the farmers for something to eat- poor, weary, exhausted creatures, who were, nevertheless, content to endure these hardships because it was done in the name of religion. Occasionally a weary train would go through as late as 1858.
Besides witnessing the hardships of the Mormons, the ยท the citizens of Grant, with the rest of Guthrie's good people, had many hardships of their own to endure.
Among the more prominent farmers are, A. Kirkpatrick, M. Rowland and D. F. Arnold.
A story is told of an old gentleman in this township,
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who, several years ago, hired himself to teach school, signed and approved his own contracts, and taught when it suited his convenience.
The soil of Grant is rich and warm, and noted for its productiveness and the early maturity of its crops. It is situated on the great water-shed divide, and is the head of numerous creeks and small streams which water its surface. It has no timber and no waste land; it is said to be the best farming land in the county. The citizens of Grant do their trading and get mail at Adair, six miles from "Hill Side," farm. Grant is in the south-west corner of the county. The town of Adair is located on the south line of the township, in Adair county.
It was laid out in 1873, by Capt. Charles Stuart for the railroad company. It contains 2 drug stores : 3 hotels; 2 dry goods stores; a steam elevator; a lumber yard; 2 coal yards; 2 blacksmith shops; 1 boot and shoe shop; 1 butcher shop; 1 furniture store; 1 hardware store; 3 farm machinery sale rooms; 1 livery stable; 1 cooper shop; a large steam flouring mill; a fine frame school house, two stories high, which cost $3,500. The flouring mill, elevator and lumber yards belong to Capt. Stuart, and are under the supervis- ion of Mr. Arnold, his agent.
Besides other advantages possessed by Grant, she has soft water; think of it, you ladies who have to use hard water.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP
Was organized in 1868, with a total population of forty- seven. It is situated in the north-east corner of the county - and has been from the first, a Congressional township of six miles square, or thirty-six sections of land. Its surface is level; in some places low; though it contains but few acres of waste land. It has no timber; is watered by numerous small streams.
The largest farmer in the township is Herman Miller; his farm contains about 800 acres, 300 of which are now under
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cultivation, and Mr. Miller expects soon to cultivate all of it. He has built him a fine residence, perhaps the finest in the county. Mr. Miller is a native of Williams county, Ohio, and his wife the daughter of Gen. Stough of the same place.
Hon. W. F. Cardell, our last Representative, has a fine 1 farm in this township. Much to the regret of his neigh- bors, Mr. Cardell has removed to Perry, Dallas county.
Among the other prominent farmers are Capt. I. R. Shipley, Geo. Miller, Mr. Godfrey, Mr. Wisner, J. S. Ellis, W. Wright, A. Kirkpatrick, J. Measures, Mr. Marsh, and others.
Captain Shipley is an old settler, and has one of the best improved farms in the township.
Advance is the post office in this township, with Mr. Shorey as post master.
GUTHRIE.
Guthrie, situated on Sec. 27, T. 78, 31, five miles west of Stuart on the line of the C., R. I. & P. R. R., was laid out in November, 1868, by B. F. Allen, Cook and Johnston, for the railroad company.
G. W. McPherson bought the land for the company of M. Hollingsworth, paying therefor $15.00 per acre.
Pending the "incubation " of a name for the place, it was called "The Switch." Being situated wholly in Guth- rie county, (the other towns are partly in Adair) it was finally called Guthrie Switch; being neglected by its father or founder, the poor child never received a name, so the good people of the town dropped the "Switch," and it was henceforth known as Guthrie.
Guthrie, though in the heart of a fine country, and in- habited by the best of people, has not grown so rapidly as the other towns on the road. The title to the land having been in litigation for several months, building was retarded, men being afraid to buy. Finally, in May, 1869, a com- promise was effected and building at once commenced, which
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was again interfered with by the failure of B. F. Allen, who holds the title to the unsold land.
In December, 1868, the first business house was built by Dr. Leroy, for a drug store, but he sold it to P. H. Lenon, who let it to a party who opened a saloon-another illus- tration of a bad beginning making a good ending. The sa- loon, was removed in a short time to another place.
O. B. Dutton built the house occupied by F. Bickford and opened a dry goods and grocery store.
Mr. H. N. Ross opened the first hardware store in the lat- ter part of 1868.
About the same time a shanty was built on the north side of the track, and Gregg & Weir opened a dry goods and notion store.
January, 1869, Mr. S. F. Stults built the building on the corner of Sherman and Fifth streets, and he, in partnership with E. B. Berry, opened a drug store. When Mr. Stults was building he was obliged to board a mile from town, there being no accommodations of that sort any nearer.
In February, 1869, George McPherson, built the hotel, but sold it to Mrs. Jackson, who let it to a Mr. Gregory, who kept the house.
In the spring of 1869 Mrs. Jackson was married to a Mr. Snowden, and she disposed of the hotel to S. Reid, who built the addition, and has kept the house ever since. This is the only hotel in the place.
The first dwelling house was built in April, 1869, by G. W. McPherson.
The next dwelling and office was that of Alanson Hill, attorney, who came to Panora in 1865, and to Guthrie in 1869. Mr. Hill went to California in 1875 in search of health, but returned to Guthrie in 1876.
The depot was built in October, 1869.
The post office was established in 1868, O. B. Dutton, post master, who served only a few weeks, when Mr. Stults was appointed. Mr. S. served until November, 1870, when he resigned in favor of J. W. Harris, the present official.
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From this office, for quarter ending April 1st, 1875, were issued money orders to the amount of $4119.77. Fees on same, $36.85. Orders paid, $2,258.95.
In May, 1869, J. Whitney started the first shoe store and shop.
Dr. Carmichael, the first physician, came in May, 1869.
The first blacksmith shop was built in March, by Mr. Snowden, who sold to Mr. Poling.
The Poling Brothers still continue the business of black- smithing.
In the spring of 1869 a man by the name of Woods came from Davenport to Guthrie, and stood "round the corners" until he excited the curiosity of the citizens, who finally in- quired of him what he was going to do? " Keep a peanut stand," was the curt reply. He built a little shanty on the corner of Sherman and Fifth streets, where Duncan's drug store now stands, and put in agricultural implements.
In the fall of 1868 J. Z. Moore opened the first lumber yard, and was followed in a short time by another, by G. IV. McPherson.
The first carpenter in town was Joseph Reynolds.
In 1873 Silas Berry opened a confectionery and fancy grocery store; he also keeps books and stationery.
Guthrie has two drug stores; that of Duncan & Manwell, who commenced here in 1872. In 1875 they erected a frame building 22x70 ft., two stories high.
In 1876 Stults & Hoge opened a drug store.
Two dry goods and grocery houses; F. B. Bickford & Spaulding, successors to C. S. Henderson, who succeeded Henderson & Bickford. This latter firm established the business in 1869; and Martin & Kile, successors to R. New- ton. This firm occupy the largest store room in town, being 22x80 ft.
One Exchange Bank, that of Stults & Bike, wlio com- menced the banking business in 1875. They have just erected a nice new building on Fifth street. Both are old
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settlers in Guthrie county, having come here in 1858 and 1857.
A restaurant and grocery house by W. McCoy. Hitch- cock Brothers, groceries and dry goods.
In 1875 J. B. Richardson put up a building, and put in a stock of boots and shoes, and groceries.
In 1869 H. N. Ross established the first hardware store, and was succeeded in 1871 by the Harris Brothers, who still continue in the business.
Guthrie has one meat market, kept by Geo. Baker.
One harness shop, opened December, 1874, by J. L. Jones.
One furniture dealer, J. D. Taylor, established 1875.
Two dealers in farm machinery, H. N. Ross and C. R. Crabb. Mr. Ross has just erected a new store building on Fifth street, 24x60 ft.
J. M. Sanborn has also erected a fine new building, and deals in light and heavy carriages.
J. M. Moore & Co., Real Estate dealers and Bankers, commenced business in 1871.
E. B. Newton, one of Guthrie County's oldest and most substantial citizens, is engaged in the Real Estate business since 1873.
Miss Martin and Mrs. Taylor are the milliners for Guthrie, and Mrs. McOmber the dress maker. Miss Sadie Wells, milliner and dress maker.
C. A. Ross, the railroad agent and operator.
Guthrie has three physicians; Drs. Lytle, Trotter and Miller, the latter a graduate of Keokuk Medical College.
One town hall 40x70 ft., over Duncan & Manwell's drug store aud Harris Brothers hardware.
Three elevators, the first of which was built in 1869 by Groom & Sampson, who were succeeded by Mr. Sampson, who sold to Chas. Stuart in April, 1876. Capacity of this elevator 3,000 bushels.
The Grange Elevator was built in 1874, by the Patrons of
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Husbandry, who sold to F. B. Bickford in March, 1876. Ca- pacity, 12,000 bushels.
In 1875 Chas. Stuart built an elevator of 30,000 bushels capacity, operated by horse power. Doing a business of $25,000 or $30,000.
The lumber business, started by J. Z. Moore in 1868, and also that of Geo. McPherson, was closed out by these gen- tlemen in 1869, at which time Groom & Sampson opened a yard; in 1870 Mr. Sampson bought out the interest of Mr. Groom, and continued in the business for four years, when he closed out.
In 1875 Chas. Stuart opened a lumber yard, and is do- ing a good business.
Guthrie, happy place, has but one lawyer, Alanson Hill, one of Guthrie county's many good men.
One beer saloon, which is offset by a flourishing Temper- ance Society, which was organized in the winter of 1875. This organization has a membership of three hundred and forty, including the cold water army -- a children's society. Much good has been accomplished by this army of temper- ance workers, who hold meetings once a fortnight, which, besides being successful in their main object, temperance, are looked forward to with much pleasure, as an intellectual treat, literary exercises of a high order being a part of the entertainment.
The Presbyterian Church was organized in the spring of 1869, by Rev. H. H. Kellogg, with barely enough members to form a Society.
The church building was erected in the fall of the same year. The Methodists, who have no house of their own, use this on alternate Sundays with the Presbyterians.
There is one Sabbath School-Union-which numbers over one hundred pupils. The Superintendent of this school is Mr. J. C. Hitchcock.
Guthrie is an independent school district, with a building 24x38 feet, two stories high. Two teachers are employed at present; (May, 1876,) Miss Emily Kellogg, Principal, Miss Celia Sampson, assistant.
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
CASEY.
Casey, situated on the C., R. I. & P. Railroad, twelve miles west of Stuart, and six miles east of the west line of the county, is a thriving town of 525 inhabitants, noted as are all our western towns and villages, for the enterprise and industry of her citizens. Its surroundings are among the most beautiful and picturesque in the county, the hills and groves on the south and west, relieving in pleasant contrast, the prairies of the north and east. It has been my fortune each time to visit Casey in the season when the trees and ground were brown and bare, and I could not resist the temptation to make these hills the graves of some race of mighty giants, who millions and millions of years ago, inhabited this lovely spot, and I wondered why these beautiful streams should have received such unpoetic names, as northwest fork and south fork of Middle river. I won- dered, too, if Mother Nature did not breathe one sigh of pity for those who by this ugly name, certainly detracted somewhat from her beauty, as the sound of the name and the sight of the stream do not harmonize; in nature all is harmony.
Sitting by an upper window of the hospitable home of one of her prominent citizens, where I could have a grand view of the surrounding scenery, weaving fancies over these gigantic tombs, I could not refrain from asking myself the question, whether in the heart of the little city there might not be graves as stupendous as these; not the graves of inanimate bodies, but of buried hopes; of departed schemes of ambition, to whose memory no head-stone may be reared, but which, away in the quiet recesses of some ach- ing hearts, lie mouldering still.
In the winter of 1868 Messrs. Marshall and Weeks laid out the town, the original plat containing ninety acres, being a part of Sec. 34, T. 78, R. 32, and part of Sec. 3, 77, 32.
In 1870 Messrs. S. B. Moody and John Woods each laid
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out an addition on the north of the original plat, the two containing about fifty acres.
Of these founders, Mr. Marshall is engaged in the hard- ware trade, which he began with Mr. Hartpence, in 1869. He also sells farm machinery and coal. Mr. Weeks is farming south of town. Mr. Woods is retired from bus- iness, except an occasional real estate transfer. Mr. Moody opened the first dry goods store in April, 1868, in which he still continues, and is doing a good business.
Casey was so called out of respect to a Mr. Casey, a railroad contractor, and friend of Mr. Tracy, president of the C., R. I. & P. Railroad.
Marshall and Weeks donated the grounds for depot and railroad buildings. The company use a steam pump.at this place, to force the water from the river to the tank.
The first business house was that of Loomis & Son, vari- ety store, in the building now occupied by Dr. Wolf as a drug store. The building was erected in 1868. G. A. Loomis, the son, is in the real estate business and is a Notary Public.
About the same time T. L. Pollard, now dead, built the place now occupied by J. E. Gharrett, as a farm machinery warehouse, and opened the first drug store.
The depot was built in the fall of 1868. In December of the same year, C. E. Dean opened the first boarding house, south of the track, in the building now used as a section house, but as he had another house in De Soto, Mr. Har- roun, Mrs. Dean's father, superintended this one. Mr. H. is now living in Cameron, Missouri. In March, 1869, Mr. Dean took the boarding cars, which stood here until No- vember, when they were moved to Stuart.
Mr. Dunham kept the first hotel, in a shanty, which he built. After Mr. Denning put up the Denning House, Mr. Dunham moved the shanty to Avoca, where he and his elder daugher, Ella, kept hotel in it, while Mrs. Dunham and "Old Phil." kept the Denning House. The house changed landlords several times, and in December, 1871,
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Mr. Denning took charge himself and has run it success- fully ever since. The house contains twenty rooms with a prospective addition of several more. Travelers find this a neat and orderly place as well as a pleasant home.
In 1868 Carter's boarding house was started, and was converted into a hotel in 1869. Mr. Carter died in 1875, since which time Mrs. Carter has conducted the business quite successfully -- another instance of woman's capability to do business.
After the town was laid out a post office was established on the south side in Adair county, and Mr. R. H. Marshall appointed post master, receiving his commission in Feb- ruary, 1869.
In the fall of 1872 the office was discontinued, and Casey received her mail at Guthrie for two or three weeks, though the post master, Mr. Harris, very generously acted as letter carrier to them. At this time, an office was established on the north side and E. M. Day appointed post master.
The present, punctual and competent post master, W. D. Kelsey, was appointed in April, 1875. To give some idea of the business of the office, the Money Order business amounted to $15,364.00; postage, $902.35 in one year. The average number of letters mailed daily is 125. This is the separating office for twenty-two offices in Guthrie, Adair, and Dallas counties.
January, 1870, E. M. Day established the first newspaper, called the Casey Union. The paper changed hands several times, and finally Mr. Day bought back a part of the type, etc., and started the State Granger, which flourished only a short time; this was in 1872. In the same year the Casey Clarion was established by Hartpence & Marshall, editors and proprietors, who sold in June, 1874, to Thos. Boydston, who in turn sold to Ham. Kautzman, the present editor, in December, 1875. This is an ordinary country office, with good job press and a good advertising patronage. The editor, though a young man, may be called an old settler, having come to Guthrie county in 1856. Mr. Marshall, one
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of the founders of the paper, came to Guthrie in 1863, and though he may not come in the list of old settlers, he is not a new comer, and he has certainly done much for the improvement of his town.
Though T. L. Pollard sold the first drugs in Casey, Mr. Henry North established the first exclusive drug store in 1869. Mr. North, too, is an old settler, having come to Guthrie in 1855. He first settled in Bear Grove township and has lived in several different places in the county. He still continues in the drug business.
W. W. Hyzer, a native of Poughkeepsie, New York, established a drug store, in 1874, and is doing a good bus- iness.
Dr A. R. Wolf, druggist, is also doing a good business.
Besides the dry goods and grocery store of S. B. Moody, there is another, established in 1872, by Burns & McFar- land, who are also doing a good business.
Casey has two furniture stores; that of Wm. Tift, who commenced business in 1873, and Irion & Schneitman, established in January, 1876. This latter house has a gocd selection of furniture and is doing a good business.
John Ives, at the livery stable and feed store, keeps nice carriages and buggies, good horses and careful drivers.
Buck Brothers established their livery stable in 1873. They are also proprietors of the hack line between Casey and Guthrie Center, and from Casey to Fontanelle. These gentlemen, too, are old settlers, having come to the county in 1857.
There are four houses selling agricultural implements; Marshall & Stoffel, south side; Freeman, on the north side; J. E. Gharrett, a branch house, whose principal warehouse and residence is in Stuart.
C. A. Berry & Co. established a house of this kind in 1871. In 1876 they went in as a branch house of Dryden & Berry, of Des Moines. This firm also sells sewing machines, the Victor being their favorite.
Casey has two harness makers; Jacob Blattner, estab
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lished in 1869, and Albert Kalkofen, in 1873. Four black- smith shops; J. F. Phillips, Jno. Simmons, Mr. Shaw and Mr. Eckhart. Two shoe shops, carried on by G. H. Har- rington and S. R. Sterner.
Two meat markets; that of Ostrander Brothers and Dan. Moody & Cady; the latter firm are also coal dealers.
One restaurant and bakery, by J. S. Townsend, since 1875.
One milliner, Mrs. Linthurst, who has been in business since November, 1872.
J. F. Rogers, sells sewing machines and organs, since January, 1876.
Mr. L. H. Heald, a native of Temple, N. H., in 1874, es- tablished the only jewelry store.
In 1871, John Ivers established himself in the grain com- mission business, and in 1873, went into banking, in which business he still continues. Mr. Ivers is an old settler, hav- ing come Guthrie county in 1857. He has been a member of the Board of Supervisors from Centre township, and was at one time County Auditor.
There are two grain dealers; J. W. Woods, and R. T. Young & Company.
Two lumber yards, that of Belden & Richards, succes- sors to E. O. Whitmore, who started the first lumber yard in 1869, and sold to the present firm in 1876, and Rutt & Rutt, successors to Hatch & Wingate.
In the beginning of this sketch, I say Loomis & Sons built the first business house; this is true, yet there was another put up a short time previous, by Kilbourne & Rutt, who brought it from Fontanelle, framed and ready to put together. It was used as a real estate office.
Casey has two lawyers; C. M. Burnett, who came here in 1874, from Indianola, where he was educated at Simpson Centenary College; and Chas. Whitney, a native of Og- densburg, N. Y., who was educated at Chicago and St. Louis. He practiced medicine for a number of years, but
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finally abandoned that for the more congenial profession of law. The Dr. came to Guthrie in 1871.
We have here four physicians, the pioneer in the frater- nity being Dr. Alfred Warren, a native of Marietta, Ohio, who was educated at Keokuk and St. Louis. The Dr. came to Guthrie in 1864, stopping at Guthrie Centre: has prac- ticed his profession for seven years, the latter three of which have been in Casey.
Dr. James Smith, Dr. J. J. Wolf and Dr. J. H. Wheelis, are also prominent and popular practicing physicians.
F. N. Eaton, station agent for the C., R. I. & P. Railroad, has been in the employ of the road at Casey since April, 1869. He has also been operator for the W. U. Telegraph Company.
Casey has two schools; an ordinary district school on the south side, and a graded school on the north side, where they employ two teachers, Mrs. Hatch having been the principal of this school for several years.
She has two churches; the Methodist, which is a building of 24x36 ft., with a seating capacity of 50, a membership of thirty and a flourishing Sabbath-school.
The Congregational church was built in 1870, and the society, though small, has flourished finely.
Two halls; Town Hall or Middleton's Hall, 22x60 ft., built in 1875, and Burn's Hall, where the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges are held. Masonic Lodge was chartered in 1870, and has a membership of thirty. Odd Fellows Lodge was chartered in 1873, has thirty-five members.
The cemetery, three-quarters of a mile south-east of town is in Adair county.
Casey has two music teachers, Mrs. Katie Martin and Miss Belle Grow, both good teachers.
She has also two elocutionists, Mr. and Mrs. Hatch, of whom we may well be proud. They came to Guthrie in 1869, Mrs. Hatch having been principal of the Burlington public schools for a number of years previous.
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